276 ANNUAL EEPORT 



One of the most pernicious features of this branch has been 

 that people — reading from their large volume, see a statement, 

 for instance, that Mr. So & So, of Connecticut, or this or the 

 other man, has raised hundreds of bushels of strawberries, or how 

 they produce $1,200 or $1,500 worth of small fruits to the acre, 

 and they proceed to figure out how much there is in it. They 

 say a hundred acres will produce at that rate so much. And so 

 they proceed to set the hundred acres and calculate they are to 

 get $120,000. It is a delusion and a snare. I had a friend in 

 Southern Illinois, who undertook to set one hundred acres in 

 strawberries, and succeeded in setting out seventy-five. But he 

 didn't keep them but a year or two, and where his $100,000 

 came in I don't know; I never heard of his having it. 



There are certain well known varieties of strawberries that 

 prove such a success it is not necessary to say much about them. 

 I do not believe in going into the cultivation extensively of new 

 and untried varieties which have not been thoroughly approved. 

 If you will go with me to Hastings, upon the brow of a hill over- 

 looking the Mississippi river, I can show you a patch of the 

 Wilson strawberry, which is about four rods square, or one-tenth 

 of an acre; and from that little field was sold this last season 

 over a hundred dollars worth of fruit; nine hundred and thirty 

 quarts. That is high culture and on a small scale. That is no 

 criterion from which to judge of large fields, or for culture for 

 commercial purposes. 



The raspberry is usually hardy, though in this climate it is 

 better to give it some winter protection perhaps. While the 

 blackberry and dewberry are always tender, there are no va- 

 rieties yet developed that are worthy to be called hardy. They 

 should receive all the protection that we can give them, and a 

 covering of earth late in fall is best of all. 



Another, and the most important perhaps of all our small 

 fruits, and whose successful growth in Minnesota has been dem- 

 onstrated, and of all localities, grown in this climate it is of 

 the highest quality, far superior to those grown in vineyards 

 further south, is the grape. It is grown here under favorable 

 conditions to the satisfaction of its growers. Those that are 

 planting suitable varieties and giving thein proper cultivation 

 are reaping a bountiful reward. Of the varieties that I might 

 speak of, I will mention the Brighton. Although it is of partial 

 foreign origin, being one-quarter foreign blood and three- 

 quarters Labrusca, it is a variety that will prove of great value 



